Patents Represented by Attorney Michael Best & Friedrich LLC

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  • Soft-sculpted furniture
    Patent number: 6494532
    Abstract: Soft-sculpted furniture, such as a chair, having unstructured seat and back portions and two arm portions. The chair can be in the form of a soft-sculpted animal or other figures or characters. The arm portions are contoured to follow the contour of the seat and back portions, are connected between the seat portion and back portion, and are constructed so that the chair provides support for a user in a seated upright position without the need for an internal frame structure. The arm portions are configured to extend outward when the chair is not in use to give the appearance of the figure inviting the user to sit in the chair. The arms can be wrapped around the user when in the chair and are wide enough to cover a substantial portion of the user so as to serve as a blanket or cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Inventors: Judith J. Brosnan, Scott T. Haugh
  • Modular gravity feed dispenser unit
    Patent number: 6494328
    Abstract: A modular system is provided for mounting a gravity feed dispenser that allows one or more fixtures to be mounted in front of, and in working relationship with, the dispenser. The gravity feed dispenser is mounted on a support structure in such a way that other fixtures such as shelving, hangers, rods, or other storage and display fixtures can be mounted in front of the dispenser in a number of different configurations. A workstation featuring one or more gravity feed dispensers is provided by mounting a work area and shelves in front of and in working relationship with the dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Ricklef E. Barrett, Martin L. De Land
  • Optical fiber connector in which an optical fiber is protected even when connection is not made
    Patent number: 6491442
    Abstract: In an optical fiber connector (1), an outer member (2) holds a portion of an optical fiber (4A) remote from its connecting end which is connectable to a connecting end of a counterpart optical fiber. An aligning member (3) is held by the outer member so as to be movable along the optical fiber. The aligning member carries out positioning of the connecting end of the optical fiber. The aligning member is urged by a spring (5) in a direction to project from the outer member. When connecting the optical fiber to the counterpart optical fiber, the aligning member is moved in a direction opposite to the foregoing direction against an urging force applied by the spring so that the connecting end of the optical fiber is projected from the aligning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry
    Inventors: Keiji Murakami, Makoto Yamashita, Jun Takeda, Yasuhiro Ando, Nobuo Sato, Mitsuo Usui, Kohsuke Katsura
  • Charge pump type voltage conversion circuit having small ripple voltage components
    Patent number: 6492862
    Abstract: A charge pump type voltage conversion circuit comprises a voltage detector which detects whether a boosted output voltage is larger or smaller than a predetermined reference voltage. A clock generator generates a clock signal based on the result of detection by the voltage detector. A charge pump circuit produces the boosted output voltage in response to the clock signal. A transfer control circuit allows or inhibits transfer of the clock signal to the charge pump circuit depending on the result of detection by the voltage detector. When the condition of the transfer control circuit is changed from the inhibited condition to the allowed condition based on the clock signal outputted from the clock generator, an operation of the charge pump circuit always starts from a voltage boost sequence, thereby reducing a ripple components of the boosted output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Nakahara
  • Mobile unit local access network
    Patent number: 6490258
    Abstract: This invention relates to a local access network for mobile telephone units. Each radio station in this network has an associated group of radio stations forming a predetermined macrocell. Each radio station may become the macrocell's core station. When a mobile unit leaves the coverage of one station (the “fading” station) and enters the coverage of another (the “change-over” station), virtual connections are formed to the stations covering the macrocell associated with the change over the station. At this time the virtual connections belonging to the stations in the macrocell associated with the previous station, but not belonging to the macrocell associated with the change-over station, are released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Quinquis, Oliver Roussel, Laurent Hue
  • Liquid electrophotographic imaging system with a maximized solid toner ratio
    Patent number: 6487385
    Abstract: A liquid electrophotographic developing apparatus capable of preventing image drift and reducing the load in the squeezing process. A developing roller faces a photoreceptor belt with a predetermined spacing to supply a liquid developer to the photoreceptor belt while rotating at a peripheral velocity in the opposite direction to that of the photoreceptor belt in a developing region thereon. A peripheral velocity ratio of the peripheral velocity to a moving velocity of the photoreceptor belt is determined so as to maximize a solid component ratio of a developed toner layer on the photoreceptor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yoshii, Yasuhiro Funayama, Jun Koyatsu, Tsutomu Uezono
  • Versatile badge plate with a jewelry-like appearance
    Patent number: 6484424
    Abstract: A relatively low cost assembly—especially one having a jewelry-like appearance—provides for a do-it-yourself display of graphic material while enabling a user to employ modern devices for generating the graphics, such as personal computers with graphic capabilities, special printers, and the like. The assembly includes a front plate and a back plate with a wire spring pin trapped between them. The graphics are on a name plate mounted in a recessed area surrounded by a frame on the front plate. Alignment contours are formed in the front plate to assist the do-it-yourselfer in installing his homemade graphics on the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Contemporary, Inc.
    Inventor: James Peterson
  • Toy figure with articulating joints
    Patent number: 6482068
    Abstract: A toy figure having multiple articulating limbs connected to the torso by pivot joints that are molded in a vertical injection molding step that forms and pivotally interconnects, in situ one member of the pivot joint to a second, pre-formed member of the pivot joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: C.J. Associates, Ltd.
    Inventors: James S. W. Lee, Chiu Keung Kwan
  • Method of correcting a sheet conveyance error and an apparatus therefor
    Patent number: 6481906
    Abstract: A method of correcting a conveyance error of a continuous sheet having a train of segments each including a respective segment mark and being conveyed for printing in accordance with the number of steps is disclosed. The method counts steps between consecutive segment marks during conveyance of the sheet to thereby output an actual number of steps, compares the actual number of steps with a preselected number of steps determined by a distance between the consecutive segment marks, and corrects, based on the result of comparison, the start of a new line at even positions of a single segment during subsequent conveyance. An apparatus for practicing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Mamoru Ikeda
  • Conveyor oven having an energy management system for a modulated gas flow
    Patent number: 6481433
    Abstract: A conveyor oven has a modulating gas valve which raises and lowers the thermal output of a burner that heats the oven. A bypass line passes a minimum amount of gas to prevent the burner from completely shutting down during periods while the oven remains above a threshold demand for more heat. Electrical isolation is provided between temperature controlling devices to prevent an electrical feed back which might otherwise prevent a complete shut down of the oven during hazardous conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Middleby Marshall Incorporated
    Inventors: William S. Schjerven, Sr., Mark A. Sieron, Bruce Grau, Adrian A. Bruno, Gerald J. Schneeweiss, Frank Carbonara
  • Frequency converter
    Patent number: 6477360
    Abstract: A frequency converter includes a multiplying circuit, a load circuit, and an output buffer circuit. The multiplying circuit is arranged to multiply an RF signal and an LO signal and output a difference frequency signal with a frequency, which is the difference between the frequencies of the two signals, from its output terminal. The load circuit is arranged to connect the output terminal of the multiplying circuit to a power supply. The output buffer circuit is arranged to have an input terminal connected to the output terminal of the multiplying circuit, and an output terminal for outputting a signal to the next stage. A notch circuit for removing an undesired signal frequency component is combined in the load circuit. The notch circuit has an impedance characteristic in which the impedance is abruptly reduced to provide a valley point at the undesired signal frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Osamu Watanabe, Takafumi Yamaji, Hiroshi Tanimoto, Shoji Otaka
  • Threading mechanism for magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus
    Patent number: 6471150
    Abstract: In a threading mechanism for taking out a leader pin secured to one end of a magnetic recording tape from a single reel cartridge, moving the leader pin to a predetermined guide path and threading the magnetic recording tape around a reel in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, when a cartridge loader holding the cartridge is moved to the cartridge loading position of a deck base by a loader guide mounted on the deck base, a threader drive for holding the leader pin and guiding the leader pin to the reel through the guide path rotates the leader block in cooperation of a retractor cam provided to the cartridge loader and a retractor provided to the deck base, engages a hook provided to the leader block with the leader pin from the rear side thereof along the loading direction of the cartridge loader to clamp the leader pin to the leader block, and guides the leader pin to the guide path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Tsuchiya, Kouji Fujita
  • Liquid crystal display and method of performing display operation
    Patent number: 6469765
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display and a method of operating such liquid crystal display in which display operation is performed by changing a director of said liquid crystal molecules mainly in a plane parallel to first and second substrate forming a liquid crystal display panel. Liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal display panel have a negative anisotropy of permittivity. The liquid crystal display comprises: a first common electrode disposed on the side of said first substrate; an insulating layer formed on the first common electrode; at least one pixel electrodes each of which is formed on the insulating layer and has a plurality of opening portions; a second common electrode disposed on the side of the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsuyama, Yoshihiko Hirai, Kazumi Kobayashi, Yuji Yamamoto, Mamoru Okamoto, Michiaki Sakamoto, Shinichi Nakata
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: D464320
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Kazukuni Hisatomi, Masayuki Kikuchi
  • Egg slicer
    Patent number: D464851
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Amco Houseworks LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Dorion
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: D465202
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Kubota
  • Chair
    Patent number: D465680
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Global Total Office
    Inventor: Zooey Chu
  • Spoon rest
    Patent number: D465974
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Amco Houseworks LLC
    Inventors: Karen Dorion, Christopher Dorion
  • Spoon rest
    Patent number: D466375
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Amco Houseworks LLC
    Inventors: Karen Dorion, Christopher Dorion
  • Trundle measure wheel
    Patent number: D467189
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Classroom Safe-T Products, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Bruce Stoneberg